Design Guide: How To Make Spaces Look Expensive On A Budget

Let's face it. Who wants to spend more money than they have to to make their space look and feel luxurious? Thankfully there are small ways to make big differences in your space.

Money can buy you a lot of things, but style is not one of them. People often conflate money with a sense of style, waiting till there's a specific load in the piggy bank before turning their space into the sanctuary of their dreams.

And while it goes without saying that refurbishing your home comes with significant expenses that can undoubtedly burn a hole in your pocket, there are some things that you can do and add (or take away) that can change the entire experience of your dwellings. Here are some ways you can make your space look more luxurious without breaking the bank:

Lighting

As they say in showbiz, "lighting is everything!" This is also true for your home. A space that's getting sufficient light in can make the room feel airier and expansive.

You might want to look at more sheer curtains (floor-to-ceiling drapes are mucho fancy) or considering installing a statement light fixture. You might also consider other smaller lights like matching lamps.

Dimmers

Suppose you've decided on the lights, yay! To create a fuller experience, you might think about adding some dimming switches to your lights.

It sounds insignificant, but controlling your space's ambiance goes a long way in making it feel fancier. It's also important to remember that details are everything when it comes to aesthetics.

Consider Scent

One of the major things you can do to make your space look more expensive is to think of what "expensive" feels like. That means making your area more than just a visual splendor but an entire sensory experience.

Consider how you would like to smell and add a home fragrance. You could add a diffuser, some potpourri, a spray, or candles. If it's something you can use in various rooms, that starts to give your home a more cohesive feel.

Textures And Patterns

In the name of creating a nuanced sensorial experience, see how you can incorporate the sense of touch and even the visual experience of texture.

Declutter

Part of the reason you may be finding it challenging to start sprucing up your space may not only be financial but the fact that there are already so many things.

Look around at things you don't use, that you don't like, that you could sell or donate. It's time for that out with that much-needed "out with the old and in with the new."